Program Requirements

To receive a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, all students must complete at least 72 hours of coursework, including research/MA research project/dissertation credits. Within this framework, students choose areas of emphasis that correspond to their research interests in accordance with their primary faculty advisor.

Required Courses

Complete all of the following required courses (the year in the program the course is usually taken is indicated in the parentheses):

PSYX 501: Teaching of Psychology (1st year)
PSYX 520: Statistics I (1st year)
PSYX 521: Statistics II (1st year)
PSYX 523: Research Design (1st year)
PSYX 599: M.A. research project (2nd year)
PSYX 699: Dissertation (4th year)
PSYX 594/694: Seminar (a minimum of two -2nd, 3rd, or 4th year)

Core Content Courses

Complete at least four of the following core content courses:

PSYX 522: Multivariate Statistics
PSYX 540: Advanced Developmental
PSYX 550: Advanced Social
PSYX 551: Advanced Personality
PSYX 560: Advanced Learning and Cognition
PSYX 565: Advanced Cognition
PSYX 571: Advanced Physiological

Additional Courses

PSYX 597/697 – Research in order to fulfill remaining credits.

Note that PSYX 597 and 697 are both repeatable up to 9 credits.

Students may also take relevant courses in other departments for credit upon approval of their advisor and the Experimental Program director.

Requirements Specific to Each Emphasis

Each emphasis (e.g., Animal Behavior, Developmental, Quantitative, Cognitive, and Social) and/or specific faculty advisor may have additional requirements for each student. Check with your advisor to determine the exact requirements.

Sample Schedule

First Year

Fall Semester

PSYX 501: Teaching of Psychology (3 cr.)
PSYX 520: Statistics I (3 cr.)
PSYX 597: Research (3 cr.)
(Outline Master’s project)

Spring Semester

PSYX 521: Statistics II (3 cr.)
PSYX 523: Research Design (3 cr.)
PSYX 597: Research (3 cr.)
(Develop and propose Master’s project)

Second Year

Fall Semester

Core content course (3 cr.)
PSYX 597: Research (3 cr.)
PSYX 599: MA research project (X cr.)
(Complete Master’s project)

Spring Semester

Core content course (3 cr.)
PSYX 599: MA research project (X cr.)
(Complete/defend Master’s project)

Third Year

Fall Semester

Core content course (3 cr.)
PSYX 697: Research (3 cr.)
(Comprehensive exam)

Spring Semester

Core content course (3 cr.)
PSYX 697: Research (X cr.)
(Propose Dissert

Fourth Year

Fall Semester

PSYX 697: Research (3 cr.)
PSYX 699: Dissertation (3 cr.)
(Complete Dissertation)

Spring Semester

PSYX 699: Dissertation (X cr.)
(Complete/defend Dissertation)